Two men walking in a crosswalk were injured when they were struck by a car driven by a distracted driver who apparently ran a red light, police said.
The accident in the 6400 block of Atlantic Avenue near the intersection with Artesia Boulevard took place about 9:55 p.m. Tuesday, Long Beach Police Lt. Mark Coble said.
“When our officers arrived at the scene they found two men down in the crosswalk and the driver who hit them rendering aid,” Coble said.
The two men who were hit were 25 and 35 years old, respectively, Coble said. Initially, they were listed in critical condition.
The victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment and one remains in critical condition. The other man is stable, Coble said.
“The driver who hit the men ran a red light and the problem appeared to be distracted driving,” Coble said. But the lieutenant wasn’t sure whether the driver was texting or using a phone when the accident occurred.
“We are going to leave that determination to the detectives,” he said.
The driver was not arrested or cited at the scene for running the red light, Coble said.
“Again, we do the investigation, but when there is a situation like this, with victims but no impaired driver, we leave it up to the detectives on the case to decide what, if any, charges might be lodged against the driver,” he said.
—City News Service